RICHMOND, Va. – Monmouth University women's soccer defender
Lauren Bruno was named the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Player of the Year in voting done by the league's head coaches.
In addition, the Hawks were selected to finish first in the Preseason Poll, also voted on by the league's head coaches. Monmouth is coming off a 2023 campaign in which it advanced to the CAA Championship match.
Bruno, who was named to the USC Players to Watch List on Tuesday, is back for one final season with the Hawks after a stellar 2023. The graduate student defender was named the 2023 CAA Defensive Player of the Year and USC All-Region after leading a defensive unit that posted 11 shutouts, including seven straight to start CAA play last fall.
Bruno was also named to the Preseason All-CAA Team and was joined on that list by sophomore midfielder
Liza Suydam. Suydam was the 2023 CAA Rookie of the Year.
Senior goalkeeper
Cassie Coster and graduate student defender
Chloe Ferreira earned Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention accolades.
In the poll, the Hawks received 133 points and five first place votes to claim the top spot. Hofstra earned 131 points and three first place votes to take the second spot in the poll. Towson, who was last year's league champion rounded out the top three with 123 points and four first place votes.
2024 CAA Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
|
School |
Points |
| 1. |
Monmouth |
133 (5 first place votes) |
| 2. |
Hofstra |
131 (3 first place votes) |
| 3. |
Towson |
123 (4 first place votes) |
| 4. |
Northeastern |
115 (1 first place vote) |
| 5. |
William & Mary |
100 |
| 6. |
Stony Brook |
90 |
| 7. |
Drexel |
71 |
| 8. |
UNCW |
57 |
| 9. |
Delaware |
53 |
| 10. |
Campbell |
48 |
| 11. |
Elon |
46 |
| 12. |
Charleston |
35 |
| 13. |
Hampton |
12 |
2024 CAA Preseason All-CAA Women's Soccer Team
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Ivey Crain |
William & Mary |
Jr. |
F |
Milton, Ga. |
| Demi Pierre |
Towson |
Gr. |
F |
Gävle, Sweden
|
| Reilly Rich |
Stony Brook |
Gr. |
F |
Ilion, N.Y. |
| Casey Touey |
Drexel |
Sr. |
F |
Rockledge, Pa. |
| Millie Davies |
Hofstra |
Jr. |
M |
Manchester, England |
| Jessie Hunt |
Northeastern |
5th |
M |
Edina, Minn. |
| Liza Suydam |
Monmouth |
So. |
M |
Lancaster, Pa. |
| Lauren Bruno |
Monmouth |
Gr. |
D |
Manalapan, N.J. |
| Maja Hansson |
Towson |
Gr. |
D |
Sandviken, Sweden |
| Louise Hayden |
Hofstra |
Gr. |
D |
Bjäerred, Sweden
|
| Riley Melendez |
Towson |
Gr. |
GK |
Springfield, Va. |
2024 CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Lauren Bruno, Monmouth
Honorable Mention: Linn Beck, M, Stony Brook; Kayla Burroughs, F, UNCW; Kyla Burns, GK, Delaware; Cassie Coster, GK, Monmouth; Chloe Ferreira, D, Monmouth; Grace Gelhaus, F, Elon; Rebecca Groseibl, M, Towson; Katie Lowe, D, Elon; Dagny Run Petursdottir, M, Hofstra; Faith Rosenblatt, D, Northeastern; Nicole Sellers, D, William & Mary; Alyssa Tucker, F, Campbell; Molly Widderich, D, William & Mary; Shae Yocum, D, Charleston
